Observations on politics, news, culture and humor

Kneejerk reaction alert

I’m excited to make the first post in the “Vile People” category I’ve created. I considered just calling the category “Chuck Schumer” since he is one of the few anti-freedom scumbags capable of really getting my blood up, but that wouldn’t be very inclusive. Luckily, the honorable senior senator from NY gets to be part of the first post. Take it away, worst Libertarian Party nominee everBob Barr:

Democratic New York Sen. Chuck Schumer now has teamed with his Republican colleague from Texas, John Cornyn, and introduced a bill that would employ the heavy hand of federal law to prohibit anonymous cell phones. Leaving aside the question of where the Congress finds authority in the Constitution to do this, it is certain that many of their colleagues will jump at this latest chance to prove they are as tough on terrorists as the next guy, whatever the cost to the rest of the citizenry.

While Sens. Schumer and Cornyn may believe that the only people who purchase prepaid cell phones are terrorists, the fact is, many average, law-abiding citizens use such devices regularly. Some people do so because they may not have the funds or the creditworthiness to buy a cell phone with a network plan. Others may do so precisely because of the anonymity such phones offer; something especially important for journalists to be able to protect communications with their sources from being revealed.

No matter to Schumer or Cornyn. To prevent one possible bad guy from purchasing a single prepaid cell phone, they’ll use their power as senators to prevent anyone from having one.

This is such a slam dunk not even Bob Barr can mess it up. The question remains, though: is Chuck Schumer really this much of an ignorant, policy-illiterate, kneejerk reaction-loving fool OR is he a patsy for the security bureaucrats who see an opening to take away another freedom in exchange for what may be a minor advance against terrorism?

I hope this bill fails…hard. The overwhelming majority of people who buy prepaid phones are people who can’t afford to get a plan, don’t have the credit for it or, yeah, maybe like the anonymity. Let them be.